Weeder attachment for cultivators.



PATENTED DEC. 10. 1907.

I s. A. MoGUNB.

WEBDER ATTACHMENT FOR GULTIVATORS'.

AP'PLIGH'ION I'IIEED OCIT. 27;:1904.

witneo oqo SAMUEL A. McGUNE, OF NEW WATERFORD, OHIO.

WEEDER ATTACI- IIWENT FOR CULTIVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed October 27. 1904:. $erialNo. 230.204-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known vthat I, SAMUEL A. MoCUNE, acitizen of the United States, residing at New Waterford, county of Columbiana, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weeder Attach- 'ments for Cultivators, of which the following is a specification. 4

The present invention relates to an improved weeder attachment for cultivators and has for its object to provide such an attachment which will be so connected with the cultivator as to be adjustable for use with angs separated by different distances; and a so a weeder attachment adapted to be raised or lowered, relative to the cultivator gangs, and in which the inclination or angle of the teeth can be varied according to the condition of the soil as desired.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

v Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a straddle row cultivator having the improved weeder attachment applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment detached from the machine; Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of connecting the weeder teeth to their supporting frame.

Referring to the drawing, in the several figures of which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, it will be seen that the attachment comprises a plurality of yielding or spring teeth suitably connected at their upper ends to a supporting frame which, in turn, is adjustably connected with the beams of the cultivator gangs. As shownsaid supporting frame consists of two parallel angle bars 1, the horizontal top flanges of which are connected by cross bars or plates 2. Said frame is supported on horizontal arms or trunnions 4 carried by upright posts 5, which are adjustably connected directly to the beams of-the cultivator gang as will be hereinafter described. As shown each of the cross bars or plates 2 is provided with two upwardly extending j awlike parts 6 between which the trunnions 4 extend, said projections 6 being connected above said trunnions by bolts 7. The frame of the weeder attachment is thus clamped to the trunnions 4 and by loosening the nuts on said bolts, it will be seen that said attachment can be rocked about said trunnions 4 and secured in any desired position and also that said trunnions can be moved laterally through said clamps to adapt the attachment for use with cultivators having differently spaced gangs.

The trunnions 4 are suitably connected at their upper ends to posts 5, preferably by having their outer ends bifurcated and secured to suitable ears on the upper ends of the posts. Said posts are mounted so as to be adjusted vertically in clamps adapted to be securely connected with the cultivator beams. As shown each of said clamps comprises a relatively flat plate 8 adapted to be placed against the outer side of the beam and a plate 9 provided with a groove or recess I adapted to partially surround the beam and having also two inwardly extending cars 10 between which the post or upright 5 is clamped by means of a bolt 11. The plates 8, 9, are connected by suitable bolts so that they may be securely fastened to the beam of the cultivator. It will be seen that the frame is thus supported on the arms 4 so as to permit the latter to be adjusted laterally to adapt the attachment for use with cultivators having gangs separated by different distances; and, by reason of. the adjustable connection be- .tween the uprights or posts 5 and the cultivator beams, the height of the attachment with relation to said beamscan be readily varied. The entire frame may also be rocked about the axis of the arms 4 and secured in any desired position to hold the teeth at the proper inclination according to the nature of the soil being operated on. As shown each of said teeth 12 is formed of a section of longitudinally curved round wire having its lower end pointed andthe upper end threaded and passed through a suitable aperture in the vertical section of one of the bars 1 of the supporting frame, being secured to such bar by means of a nut 13. To stiffen the tooth and prevent lateral movement thereof, a shield or guide 14 is provided which is bent inwardly at its ends and provided with suitable apertures through which the round section of the tooth extends. The upper end of such guide 14 is bent to bear against both the horizontal and vertical walls or sides of the angle bar 1 and it is held firmly in position by a nut 15 engaging the threaded sectionof the rod 12 and clamping the upper bent end of the guide firmly against the bar 1.

The joint between the posts 5 and arms or trunnions 4 flexibly connects the weeder frame to the shovel gangs permitting the lat- :er to rise and fall independently in opera- The advantages of a weeder attachment constructed and arranged as hereinbefore de scribed and as illustrated in the drawing are apparent. Being connected to both of the gangs between which it is arranged the weeder 1s held against bodily lateral movement relatlve to the gangs and caused to travel directly over the row, loosening the ground immediately around the young plants which is not affected by, the cultivator shovels. It removes any dirt or clods that may have been thrown on the plants by the cultivator and leaves the ground level on the row, preventmg the formation of side furrows, close to the row, which serve as conduits to direct heavy rains against the row, often causing serious damages.

As it is vertically adjustable the attachment can be applied to gangs of different helghts and be properly positioned relative to the particular gang with which it is to be used.. The capability of adjustment about a horizontal axis to vary the inclination of the weeder teeth is also a very important feature of the invention.

The shield or guide 14 for the tooth is, as shown, formed from a flat strip and constitutes not only atension spring for holding the point of the tooth in engagement with the ground over which the implement is moved, but also effectually prevents any side or lateral vibration of the tooth. As it engages the tooth at both ends, it also holds the lower end of the tooth in proper position at all times. In operating the implement over hard ground, it is often necessary to weight the frame and at such times the tension spring or guard 14 effectually prevents displacement of the point of the tooth from operative posit-ion, or prevents such point from sliding forward or trailing rearward from its substantially vertical p0 s1t1on. Said plate also limits and prevents the sudden springing forward of the lower pointed end'of the tooth after passing over an obstruction.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a straddle-row cultivator having two gangs of cultivator shovels, of a weeder arranged between said gangs and comprising a frame and suitable weeder teeth connected thereto, and means at each side of said weeder frame for connecting it respectively to each of said culti vator gangs.

2. The combination with a straddle-row cultivator having two gangs of cultivator shovels, of a weeder arranged between said gangs and comprising a frame and suitable weeder teeth connected thereto, and means at each side of said weeder frame for llexibly connecting it respectively to each of said cultivator gangs, whereby the cultivator gangs may move up and down independently.

3. The combination with a strmldle-row cultivator having two gangs of cultivator shovels, of a weeder arranged between said gangs and comprising a frame and suitable weeder teeth connected thereto, and means at each side of said weeder frame for adjustably and flexiblyconnecting it respectively to each of said cultivator gangs, whereby the cultivator gangs may move up and down independently.

4. The combination with a strznldle-row cultivator having two gangs of cultivator shovels, of a weeder arranged between said gangs and comprising a frame and suitable weeder teeth connected thereto, and means at each side of said weeder frame for connecting it respectively to each of said cult ator gangs, said weeder frame being laterally adjustable with respect to said connecting means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL A. MCCUNIC.

Witnesses B. G. \Vamqna, J. H. C. LYON. 

